Nancy Fried, 30, of Hamburg, has been selected as a finalist in PETA's annual "Sexiest Vegan Next Door" contest. Winners will be announced by May 6.Photo provided by Nancy Fried

HAMBURG — At an early age, Nancy Fried learned a lesson she’d never forget.

When she was 8 years old, her father explained to her how animals that were being raised and killed for food were inhumanely treated as they were being prepared for slaughter.

“He told me the horror stories. It really traumatized me,” said Fried, now 30. “At that point, even at that early age, I vowed never to consume meat.”

“I came to the realization that no form of animal use is morally justifiable and that human beings shouldn’t be wearing them or eating them when animal-free alternatives exist,” she added.

Fried, a registered nurse, is not shy about spreading the word about vegetarianism and its health benefits, and she often tries to convince her friends and even her patients at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan to give up eating meat.

“My activism has worn on them. It’s not hard being a vegetarian,” said Fried, who has since become a vegan, giving up all meat, as well as eggs and dairy products.

To help get the word out about the vegetarian lifestyle and animal cruelty, Fried, of Hamburg, is for the third time participating in the annual “Sexiest Vegan Next Door 2014” contest, sponsored by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

Earlier this month, she was selected as one of 10 female contestants to advance to the contest’s final round. Two winners – one female and one male – will each receive a free vacation for two to Maui, Hawaii, courtesy of HumaneTrip.com.

The contest, now in its 12th year, has proven to be an effective – and fun – way to publicize PETA, a PETA spokeswoman said.

“It’s a fun way to promote vegetarian eating and to show people how beautiful compassion can be. Many people who vote stay and watch our undercover investigations that show chicken, fish, cows and pigs feel pain and fear, just like animals we share our homes with,” said PETA spokeswoman Merrilee Burke.

While some of the contestants’ entry photos are a bit racy, Burke said PETA never has received any complaints about the unisex contest.

Likewise, Fried, who is identified as “Nancy” in the photographs, said she had no problem posing for the photos she submitted with her entry form.

“There are far more racier photos on the internet. I was doing it for the animals. I don’t think it was over the edge,” she said.

To cast a vote in the “Sexiest Vegan Next Door 2014” contest, visit PETA’s web page under the features tab. PETA will select the winners based on several factors, including vote count.